What’s on the iPod: You’re No Good by Linda Ronstadt
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You’d not know it by the posts, but I’ve been out of the office for a few days and technically until Monday. Yesterday I lunched with two writer friends, which is always refreshing. Writers need to spend time with other writers on occasion. It rejuvenates us, and makes us feel less alone in a solitary craft.
I’m also working on numerous personal projects alongside my paying projects. The paying ones come first – they must. It’s nice to be working remotely when there’s so much to do. The phone doesn’t reach me, and email is something I check when I feel like it. Putting up an “Away” message is often a great way to carve out time to complete those pressing projects.
The poetry is flowing right now. I’ve found the more I write poems, the more the ideas come rushing in at any given minute. I was in the car driving when the latest poem came to me. Allowing the fun side of you out to play, in my opinion, heightens your senses and awakens you to seeing your surroundings in new ways.
Here are some ways I’ve found to unleash creativity and tap into inspiration:
– Swing on a swing.
– Study one person or one situation as an outsider.
– Imagine “what if” when you hear something on the news that gets your attention. Actually, that “what if” exercise resulted in my first full-length book manuscript.
– Open a book, point to a word on the page, and imagine a story around it.
How and where do you find inspiration? Do you even do writing for your own pleasure these days? If so, how do you make time for it? If not, where can you find the time to put yourself first?
9 responses to “Finding Inspiration”
EVERYTHING is inspiration. That's what great about being a writer. Every sensory experience we have is material, every person we walk past is material, everything is material.
My first 1K of the day is mine. Period.
If you don't put your own work first, why are you a freelancer? That's one of the biggest reasons most of us tossed the 9-5 routine.
Your own work must come FIRST, when your energy is highest, and you slot in the other work around it. The paid work doesn't suffer for that, because the time spent on your own work energizes you, and, if anything, the freelance work for clients improves.
I know you probably get sick of hearing me talk about it, but CreativeCopyChallenge.com has been fabulous for my creativity. It really helps my "paying" work. I started a whole detective series on it that I may convert to an actual novel. There's already 16,000+ words. BTW-it's 100th challenge of words is Monday and I had the honor of picking them.
The stories of the 3-Day Walk brings me a lot of inspiration.
A huge inspiration is nature. I need to remember to get out in it more, which is challenging in the winter.
I like Devon's philosophy. Making the first 1K of the day yours. I think I may just have to try that.
Most of my work is done in the early morning hours. But, on days when hubby is at work and my son is in school, I'm here by myself (with dog and cat). That's usually when I do things for myself, whether it be writing, drumming up more work etc. I have a little secret to what I do to get inspired, sometimes.
I play flute and recorder. I like to play them for a bit before I get started. It helps my mind get focused, so I can be more creative. When I don't, my mind tends to go off in a million different directions. I spend more time thinking about what needs to get done than I do actually getting things done. Playing the flute or the recorder (or both) for a bit lessens that.
Sometimes I play for 15 minutes, sometimes it ends up being an hour, but regardless of how long I go, I still feel DAMN good when I'm done. Someday, I plan to expand and play a wooden flute and the crystal flute.
Geez, I'm envious of you prolific folks! If I wrote 1K a day for myself, I'd be totally tapped out.
For me, the inspiration is best found on a long run or bike ride, or even a short one. Most of the time I'm just on the canals of Phoenix, but my favorite is being way the heck out in the woods of northern AZ.
I play flute, too, Wendy! It freaks my dog out, so it's been a while since I've pulled it out. The piano freaks her out, too, so I haven't played that in ages, either, despite it sitting right here in my office.
Knitting and crocheting – and lately a bit of embroidery – help me focus my mind a bit. So does baking. I think it's the complex simplicity of those things that does it for me. There are skills involved, but the kind of skills that once you master them they become second nature so you can let your mind flow a bit.
"EVERYTHING is inspiration. That's what great about being a writer."
Love, this, Devon. Great reminder of what's so wonderful about being a writer (and nice reminder that it's not the inspirations that occasionally vanish, just our ability to perceive/ appreciate 'em).
For me, taking a walk, going for a bike ride or looking @ the world through a camera are all ideal inspiration-boosters.
Something very beneficial about getting a different view of the world than the one I see from in front of my monitor, plus getting my brain to focus on images rather than words for a bit.
Paula, my cat and dog don't like my playing either. They usually end up hiding when I play. I know I'm not that great, but I didn't think I was that bad! LOL!
I have to agree, Devon. Putting yourself as the priority SHOULD come first. I've been struggling to do just that.
I'm checking that out, Cathy. Any site that gives you inspiration is worth noting.
Wendy, have you tried a penny whistle? They make a beautiful sound, and the fingering is the same. And you've convinced me to haul out my flute again. 🙂
Paula, seeing some of your knitting projects, I can see why you get inspiration from it! Wow, so many flute players here.
Jake, I would think Phoenix itself is an inspiration. Gorgeous area. Like you, I find the inspiration when I walk, as well.
Hugh, I like that! Seeing it through a camera lens – what a neat way to be inspired!
I just had to pop in & say "another flute player here!"
Although I haven't picked it up in ages. I need to do that sometime soon.